WNYT.com

NY Senators speak out after gun control compromise defeat

There was more fallout Thursday after that stunning defeat of a gun control compromise in the democratic-controlled Senate.

New York's Senior Senator, Chuck Schumer is taking a very different approach from President Obama on how to proceed after this failed effort.

President Obama pointed the finger of blame at opponents, saying that voters will remember them come Election Day.

But Senator Schumer says he favors a softer, less divisive approach.

Senator Schumer said "Well, we have to meet in the middle on this issue and we have two of the biggest supporters in the Senate when it comes to the NRA so I think in the next couple of months we can sit down and come up with a compromise..."

Opponents had argued that law-abiding gun owners would suffer while criminals would simply ignore the law

Schumner said, "The felons, they don't buy their guns at dealers, because they know about background checks, they buy them at gun shows or over the internet to avoid background checks,

Schumer said that he too had met with the Newtown parents after the Senate defeat

"You know, I held them, they were crying, held them in my arms and they kept telling m that they are not going to give up and you know something, those people are amazing," he said.

New York's other senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, also voted in favor. Gillibrand said the defeat of the gun bill shows that the senate, "Is more broken than ever before." of course, it was only a few years ago when Gillibrand was a member of Congress from upstate, from right here in the Capital Region, and back then, she was getting "perfect" ratings from the National Rifle Association.